The roundtable on direct contact of the Non-Profit Civil Partenership “Komvos” with Greeks abroad began with the event titled “The Universal Greek: Influence of Greeks Abroad on the National and Global Context.” The event, hosted by the organization, took place at the Embassy of Greece in Paris and was organized in collaboration with the ARISTEiA Institute from the USA, the Hellenic Cultural Center in Paris, and the World Human Forum.
The event was coordinated by the members of the Board of Directors of the organization, Dr. Athena Coustenis and Dr. Konstantinos Drosatos. The keynote speaker was George Prevelakis (Emeritus Professor of Geopolitics at the Sorbonne (Paris 1) and researcher at CNRS – UMR Géographie-cités and founding member of Komvos).
The Event
The event began with greetings from the Ambassador of Greece, Mr. Zevelakis, the President of the Hellenic Cultural Center, Mrs. Katerina Xyla, and the General Secretary of Komvos and President of the ARISTEiA Institute, Konstantinos Drosatos, who briefed the audience on the action axes of the two organizations.
In the ensuing discussion, George Prevelakis, along with Athena Coustenis and Konstantinos Drosatos, explored the characteristics of the modern Universal Greek and to what extent these reflect modern Greece. The discussion highlighted the importance of the Greek language as a cohesive element for Greeks worldwide and as a prerequisite for the continuity of national consciousness and their connection with Greece. It was also emphasized that promoting the achievements of Greeks abroad is crucial in creating a positive atmosphere about Greece’s image abroad, which in turn will benefit diplomacy and enhance the country’s global profile.
The Word Human Forum
In the second part of the event, which was moderated by Mrs. Alexandra Mitsotaki, President of the World Human Forum, an open discussion was held with the approximately 70 Greek expatriates who attended the event. Alexandra Mitsotaki spoke about the actions of the World Human Forum, providing examples such as the Artemis space program, which, even by using the name of an ancient goddess, brings Greece into the forefront of modern global culture. The discussion included interventions from Greece’s permanent representative to the OECD, Mr. George Pagoulatos, and Greece’s permanent representative to UNESCO, Mr. George Koumoutsakos.
Mr. Pagoulatos emphasized the importance of preserving the national identity of Greeks abroad and the identity of every nation for smooth integration and meaningful contribution to global culture, without the risk of homogenization. Mr. Koumoutsakos focused on the value of returning to the humanities as a counteracting force against the overwhelming homogenization of cultures brought about by the rapid progress of technology. The contributions from the audience pointed out the need for a clear definition of the vision of modern Greece and the importance of developing specific actions that would serve as a platform for the active contribution of Greeks abroad to this vision.
Athena Coustenis emphasized the value of cooperation among four organizations, each of which approaches the Greek element from its own perspective and thematic priorities, but together they form a common ground that acts as a platform for the mobilization of Greeks for the benefit of the global Greek world.
Acknowledgments
The evening concluded with a reception at the Embassy, where discussions continued among the attendees. Komvos expresses its warm thanks to Ambassador Mr. Zevelakis for his hospitality, and to the Hellenic Cultural Center and the World Human Forum for their support during the preparation of the event.
